FACT SHEET Black Chasm Cavern was discovered by European miners during the gold rush (although it was earlier known by Native Americans). It was first mentioned in print at least as early as 1851 and the first documented exploration of the cavern was by several miners and a journalist in 1854. Black Chasm Cavern is located on land that used to be part of the quarry next door. The cave was slated to be quarried for calcite by the previous owners sometime in the late 1960s to early 70s. Fortunately, the price of calcite dropped drastically, making the quarry project unfeasible. During the 1960s, the National Speleological Society made several exploratory dives into the cave and noted its extraordinary speleothem (formation) diversity. After hearing about the quarrying plans, they decided to see if they could protect the cave by recommending it for National Natural Landmark status. When a representative from the National Park Service came to inspect the site, he agreed that this was something special that should be protected for future generations, and filed his report in 1970. Black Chasm Cavern received its National Natural Landmark status in 1976. This is a designation that can be ascribed to privately owned places of national geological and ecological significance. Black Chasm Cavern was noted as being “...the outstanding helictite cave in the far West.” Sierra Nevada Recreation Corporation purchased Black Chasm Cavern 1996. For a couple of years wild cavern expeditions were offered in this undeveloped cave. Construction of the new trail into Black Chasm Cavern was begun in mid-2000. The first walking tours into Black Chasm Cavern were given by a miner in the 1860s who built redwood decking into the first room, which eventually collapsed. The current long-lasting, corrosion-resistant stairways and trail were first opened for public walking tours on September 30, 2000. Black Chasm Cavern is set just outside the town of Volcano, which was established in 1849. Miners cleaned out $90 million in gold from the rocks by sluicing and hydraulic mining before everyone gave up and walked away from the town’s 17 hotels, 35 saloons, 3 breweries and 2 temperance societies. Just two of the original hotels remain today in Volcano. The St. George Hotel has been renovated, but still maintains its rustic charm from the gold rush.